Matthew 2
Wise men from the East follow a star to worship the newborn King, presenting gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Herod's jealous rage leads to the massacre of innocents, and the holy family flees to Egypt before settling in Nazareth.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,
Jesus born in Bethlehem — Matthew and Luke agree on location
So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.
Read Luke 2 ›asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
Star rising out of Jacob — star at Jesus' birth
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.
Read Numbers 24 ›When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’”
But you, Bethlehem, are not least — from you will come a ruler
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.
Read Micah 5 ›David as shepherd of Israel — Jesus the good shepherd from Bethlehem
Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
Read 2 Samuel 5 ›Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared.
And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the Child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight.
On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute — magi bring gifts
May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
Read Psalms 72 ›And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt,
where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
Out of Egypt I called my son — return from Egypt
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.
Read Hosea 11 ›Moses called out of Egypt — Jesus called out of Egypt
When the child had grown older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses and explained, “I drew him out of the water.”
Read Exodus 2 ›When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.
Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
'A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning — Rachel weeping for her children.' Jeremiah's exile prophecy finds new meaning in Herod's massacre of innocents.
This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Read Jeremiah 31 ›After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.
“Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those seeking the Child’s life are now dead.”
So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel.
But when he learned that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,
and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
'A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse.' Isaiah promised new life from David's family tree — Nazareth (possibly from 'netzer', branch) became the hometown.
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
Read Isaiah 11 ›Have a question about Matthew 2?
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